K-6 Annual Poetry Performance Competition
Over the next few weeks boys will be preparing to take part in the Poetry Performance Competition, now firmly established as one of Wyvern’s major events. The competition presents an excellent opportunity for all students in the school to refine and demonstrate their communication skills when presenting to an audience. All boys will enter the competition and are expected to select a poem, learn it off by heart and then perform it in front of the class. Finalists will be selected from each class. Year level finals will then be held to decide the top 3 places in each year group.
Boys are to select the poem they wish to perform. They may seek guidance from their class teacher or from Mrs. Barnes in the library who will have the school’s poetry collection on hand to assist in this process. Note, although the primary focus is on the performance of the poem, we do want boys to access poetry that is age appropriate and of high quality. Alternatively, with this in mind, boys may choose to write their own poem to perform adhering to the guidelines below. Each boy is expected to retain a copy of his poem, as well as give 2 copies to his class teacher for approval by the end of week 3.
The poem or excerpt of a poem should be of approximately the following lengths:
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Kindy |
Between 4 – 6 simple lines (not nursery rhymes) |
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Year 1 |
Between 6 – 10 simple lines |
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Year 2 |
Between 8 – 12 lines |
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Years 3 & 4 |
Between 10 – 20 lines |
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Years 5 & 6 |
Between 18 – 32 lines |
Class heats will be held in week 7 of Term 3 with 4 boys from each class being selected to go through to the year level finals to be held in week 8. Depending on the COVID-19 situation at this time and government guidelines, we aim to hold the Poetry Competition Award Assembly on Friday 18 September at 9.00am. Arrangements will be confirmed closer to the date. We thank the P&F for their kind donation of prizes which will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places.
The following guidelines will be used when judging the boys:
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Suitability of poem for age of student (not length) including a displayed understanding of the poem when performed | 5 points |
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Voice (use/projection, tone, diction, pace) | 15 points |
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Animation (manner, personality, gestures) | 10 points |
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Overall presentation and style | 10 points |
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No costumes may be used; however, the boys are permitted to use a maximum of 1 prop. Expression, gestures and body language are to be encouraged | |
Sandra Gray
Head of Early Years
Deputy Head K-2
